Ahok adjusts to life in prison by reading the Bible and writing

PHOTO: Reuters

Detained non-active Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama is adjusting to life behind bars by reading the Bible and writing, his sister said on Monday.

Fify Lety Indra said that her brother had been an avid reader of the Holy Bible since he was in the university, however his tight schedule while serving as Jakarta Governor sometimes stood in the way.

Now, after being sentenced to two years in prison from his blasphemy case, Ahok continues his religious habit while he also sharpens his Mandarin language.

"My brother also asked for a notebook, I think he needs a medium to share his feelings because sometimes prison cells can be so lonely," Fifi told The Jakarta Post.

"Who knows, he may produce quality writing in prison, just like Soekarno," she continued, referring to the country's first president.

In 2008 Ahok wrote a book titled "Merubah Indonesia" in which he shared his life experiences including his political career and how many of his political opponents quoted the Quranic verse, which later became the centre of his blasphemy case, to campaign against him.